When given the opportunity to read Stephen Mansfield's latest book, The Search for God and Guinness, I was immediately intrigued and decided to give it a chance. Guinness has been an internationally known brand for well over 200 years and I welcomed the opportunity to learn more about its founding, heritage, and values.
Confession: I am not a drinker. The strongest drink I normally ever have is a Coke Zero. Raised in a home where alcohol played a very prevalent role, I made a conscious decision to not drink as an adult. That being said, I greatly enjoyed learning the history of beer, which goes much deeper than I ever expected. I was fascinated by how prominent beer was in Christianity through the ages as well, and how according to Mansfield that it is only recently that Christians have had more of a reputation as "tee-totalers."
Along with the history of beer, in this book we also encounter the legacy of a man named Arthur Guinness. I was struck by the deep religious roots of the Guinness family and how involved they were in ministry and acts of social justice. The book also details how the Guinness company went to great lengths to improve the daily lives of its employees and their families.
This was the first time I have read a book by Stephen Mansfield. I really enjoyed his writing style and will plan to read more of his works in the future.
The Search for God and Guinness would be a great read for anyone who enjoys biographies or business books.
This book was provided for review by Thomas Nelson Publishers.
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